Historical Birthday
20 Dec 1494
Oronce Fin French mathematician & cartographer born in Brianon France (d. 1555)
20 Dec 1537
John III King of Sweden (1568-92) born in stergtland Sweden (d. 1592)
20 Dec 1539
Paulus Melissus humanist Neo-Latin writer translator and composer born in Mellrichstadt Germany (d. 1602)
20 Dec 1566
Edward Wightman English radical Anabaptist born in Burton upon Trent (d. 1612)
20 Dec 1579
John Fletcher Jacobean playwright born in Rye United Kingdom
20 Dec 1594
Giovanni Battista de Gagliano Italian composer
20 Dec 1606
Christoph Schultze German composer born in Berlin Germany
20 Dec 1626
Veit Ludwig von Seckendorff German statesman born in Herzogenaurach Germany (d. 1692)
20 Dec 1629
Pieter de Hoogh Dutch Golden Age painter born in Rotterdam Netherlands (d. 1684)
20 Dec 1659
Francois Fagel Dutch lawyer & statesman born in The Hague Netherlands (d. 1746)
20 Dec 1717
Charles Gravier comte de Vergennes French statesman and diplomat born in Dijon France (d. 1787)
20 Dec 1729
Franz Xaver Thomas Pokorny Czech composer born in Mstec Krlov (d. 1794)
20 Dec 1774
Guillaume-Perre-Antoine Gatayes French composer & guitarist born in Paris France
20 Dec 1786
Pietro Raimondi Italian composer born in Rome Italy (d. 1853)
20 Dec 1792
Nicolas Charlet French painter born in Paris France (d. 1845)
20 Dec 1807
Richard Lucian Page US Navy officer (Confederate Army) born in Clarke County Virginia (d. 1901)
20 Dec 1808
Thomas Tinsley Craven Commander (Union Navy) (d. 1887)
20 Dec 1809
Friedrich Karl Kuhmstedt German composer born in Oldisleben Germany (d. 1858)
20 Dec 1812
Achille Peri Italian composer & conductor born in Reggio Emilia Italy (d. 1880)
20 Dec 1813
Samuel Jordan Kirkwood American politician (Gov-Iowa)US Sect of Interior (1881-82) born in Harford Country Maryland (d. 1894)
20 Dec 1819
John Geary American lawyer & politician (1st SF postmaster 1st mayor) born in Mount Pleasant Pennsylvania (d. 1873)
20 Dec 1825
Romeyn Beck Ayres American Brevet Major General (Union Army) born in Manheim New York (d. 1888)
20 Dec 1833
Samuel Mudd American physician (imprisoned for conspiring with John Wilkes Booth) born in Charles Country Maryland (d. )
20 Dec 1838
Edwin Abbott Abbott English schoolmaster & theologian (Flatland) born in Marylebone United Kingdom (d. 1926)
20 Dec 1841
Ferdinand Buisson French academic & pacifist (Nobel Peace Prize 1927) born in Paris France (d. 1932)
20 Dec 1858
Jan Toorop Dutch-Indonesian painter (3 Brides) born in Purworejo Regency Indonesia (d. 1928)
20 Dec 1859
Antonius Derkinderen Dutch painter & artist born in s-Hertogenbosch Netherlands (d. 1925)
20 Dec 1860
Dan Leno [George Wild Galvin] English comedian & stage actor born in Somers Town London (d. 1904)
20 Dec 1861
Ivana Kobilca Slovenian painter born in Ljubljana Slovenia (d. 1926)
20 Dec 1865
Maud Gonne English-born Irish revolutionary born in Tongham United Kingdom (d. 1953)
20 Dec 1865
Elsie De Wolfe American socialite and interior decorator born in New York City New York (d. 1950)
20 Dec 1867
Fini Henriques Danish composer & violinist born in Copenhagen Denmark
20 Dec 1869
Charley Grapewin American actor (The Wizard of Oz Libeled Lady) born in Xenia Ohio (d. 1956)
20 Dec 1870
Pieter Cornelis Boutens Dutch poet classicist and mystic (Voices Carmina) born in Middelburg Netherlands
20 Dec 1871
Henry Kimball Hadley American composer & conductor born in Somerville Massachusetts
20 Dec 1872
Lorenzo Perosi Italian composer born in Tortona Italy
20 Dec 1873
Kanichi Asakawa Japanese author & historian born in Nihonmatsu Fukushima Prefecture Japan (d. 1948)
20 Dec 1875
T. F. Powys British novelist & short-story writer (Captain Patch Goat Green) born in Shirley Derbyshire
20 Dec 1876
J. Van Oudshoorn [Jan Koos Feylbrief] Dutch writer (Maze of Senses) born in the Hague Netherlands
20 Dec 1876
Walter Sydney Adams American astronomer born in Antioch Turkey
20 Dec 1881
Branch Rickey American baseball player & sports executive (Dodgers) born in Stockdale Ohio
20 Dec 1884
Max Blokzijl Dutch singer journalist and Nazi collaborator born in Leeuwarden Netherlands (d. 1946)
20 Dec 1886
Domingo Julio Gomez Garcia Spanish composer born in Madrid Spain
20 Dec 1886
Hazel Hotchkiss Wightman American tennis player (US Open 1909-11) born in Healdsburg California (d. 1974)
20 Dec 1888
Fred Merkle American baseball figure born in Watertown Wisconsin (d. 1958)
20 Dec 1889
Boidar irola Croatian composer born in akanje Croatia
20 Dec 1890
Yvonne Arnaud French-born pianist singer and actress (Yvonne Arnaud Theatre) born in Bordeaux Gironde Aquitaine France (d. 1958)
20 Dec 1895
Susanne Langer American philosopher & educator (Philosophy in a New Key) born in Manhattan New York City
20 Dec 1898
Irene Dunne American actress (Cimarron Theodora Goes Wild) born in Louisville Kentucky (d. 1990)
20 Dec 1900
Gabby Harnett American baseball player and manager (NL MVP 1935) born in Woonsocket Rhode Island (d. 1972)
20 Dec 1901
Louis Kahn US architect [or Feb 20] born in Prnu Estonia
20 Dec 1901
Robert Van de Graaff American engineer & physicist (Mobility of Gaseous Ions) born in Tuscaloosa Alabama
20 Dec 1902
Max Lerner American journalist & educator (NY Post) born in Minsk Russia (d. 1992)
20 Dec 1902
Sidney Hook American philosopher (Paradoxes of Freedom) born in Brooklyn New York
20 Dec 1902
George Edward Alexander Windsor Duke of Kent born in York Cottage United Kingdom (d. 1942)
20 Dec 1904
Hans Burkhardt Swiss-American abstract artist born in Basel Switzerland
20 Dec 1905
Albert Dekker American actor (Dr Cyclops Beau Gesture) born in Brooklyn New York (d. 1968)
20 Dec 1905
Tiger Bill OReilly Australian cricketer (mighty Australian leg-spinner) born in White Cliffs Australia
20 Dec 1906
Dick White British intelligence officer (Director General of MI5 19531956 Head of the Secret Intelligence Service 19561968) born in Tonbridge Kent
20 Dec 1906
Irving Krick American meteorologist & inventor born in San Francisco California
20 Dec 1906
Lowell Gilmore American actor (The Picture of Dorian Gray Living Christ Series) born in St. Paul Minnesota (d. 1960)
20 Dec 1907
Paul Francis Webster American lyricist born in New York City New York (d. 1984)
20 Dec 1908
Julio Csar Brero [or Giulio Cesare] Italian-born Argentine composer and lawyer (Novella) born in Milan Italy (d. 1973)
20 Dec 1908
Norman Hackforth British musician & radio broadcaster born in Bihar British India
20 Dec 1908
Dennis Morgan American actor (Kitty Foyle) born in Prentice Wisconsin (d. 1994)
20 Dec 1908
Francis Turner American civil engineer (oversaw the Interstate Highway System) born in Dallas Texas (d. 1999)
20 Dec 1909
Vagn Holmboe Danish neo-classical composer (Sinfonia rustica) born in Horsens Jutland (d. 1996)
20 Dec 1909
Vakkom Majeed Indian freedom fighter & politician born in the Kingdom of Travancore (d. 2000)
20 Dec 1911
Hortense Calisher American novelist (Arts & Letters 1967) born in NYC New York
20 Dec 1915
Aziz Nesin Turkish writer & humorist born in Heybeliada Ottoman Empire (d. 1995)
20 Dec 1916
Michel Chartrand French-Canadian union activist born in Outremont Quebec
20 Dec 1917
Audrey Totter American actress (Carpetbaggers Set-Up The Unsuspected) born in Joliet Illinois (d. 2013)
20 Dec 1917
David Bohm American physicist philosopher and neuropsychologist born in Wilkes-Barre Pennsylvania (d. 1992)
20 Dec 1922
Charita Bauer American actress (The Guiding Light Aldrich Family) born in Newark New Jersey (d. 1985)
20 Dec 1922
George Roy Hill American film director (Slap Shot Little Drummer Girl Little Romance) born in Minneapolis Minnesota
20 Dec 1924
Errol John Trinidadian actor & playwright (A Man from the Sun The Nuns Story Assault on a Queen) born in Port of Spain Trinidad (d. 1988)
20 Dec 1924
Judy LaMarsh Canadian politician & broadcaster born in Chatham-Kent Canada (d. 1980)
20 Dec 1925
Bob de Moor Belgian comics creator & artist (Kuifje Lion of Flanders) born in Antwerp Belgium
20 Dec 1925
Vlastimir Nikolovski Macedonian composer born in Prileb Macedonia
20 Dec 1925
Benito Lorenzi Italian footballer born in Buggiano Italy (d. 2007)
20 Dec 1926
David Levine American artist (New York Review of Books caricatures) born in Brooklyn New York (d. 2009)
20 Dec 1926
Otto Graf Lambsdorff German politician (Free Democratic Party) born in Aachen Germany
20 Dec 1926
Geoffrey Howe British politician (Chancellor and Foreign Secretary under Thatcher) born in Aberavon Glamorganshire (d. 2015)
20 Dec 1927
Jim Simpson American sportscaster born in Washington D.C.
20 Dec 1927
Kim Young-sam South Korean politician and democratic activist (President of South Korea 1993-98) born in Geojedo Geoje South Korea (d. 2015)
20 Dec 1928
Charles Donald Adams English opera singer and actor born in Bristol United Kingdom
20 Dec 1928
Jack Christiansen American football player and coach (Lions) born in Sublette Kansas
20 Dec 1929
Milan Pani Serbian-American politician and humanitarian born in Belgrade Serbia
20 Dec 1931
Mary Ellen Mala Powers American actress (Cyrano de Bergerac The Wild Wild West) born in San Francisco California (d. 2007)
20 Dec 1932
John Hillerman American actor (Magnum PI Chinatown Blazing Saddles) born in Denison Texas (d. 2017)
20 Dec 1933
Gordon Getty American businessman and heir of J. Paul Getty born in Los Angeles California
20 Dec 1933
Rik Van Looy Belgian cyclist (world champion 1961) born in Grobbendonk Belgium
20 Dec 1933
Jean Carnahan US politician and writer (Missouri Senator 20012002) born in Washington D.C.
20 Dec 1935
Khalid Billy Ibadulla Pakistani cricketer (166 on debut Pakistan v Aust 1964) born in Lahore Pakistan
20 Dec 1938
John Harris Harbison American composer born in Orange New Jersey
20 Dec 1939
Kim Weston American soul singer (It Takes Two) born in Detroit Michigan
20 Dec 1939
Kathryn Joosten American actress (Desperate Housewives) born in Chicago Illinois (d. 2012)
20 Dec 1940
Larry Willis American jazz pianist & composer born in New York City New York
20 Dec 1942
Robert L Hayes American 100m4x100m runner (Olympic 2 gold-1964) born in Jacksonville Florida
20 Dec 1943
Angel Tompkins American actress (Gloria-Search) born in Albany California
20 Dec 1944
Gernot Wolfgruber Austrian writer born in Gmnd Lower Austria
20 Dec 1944
Robert Colomby American rock drummer (Blood Sweat & Tears-When I Die) born in NYC New York
20 Dec 1944
Jean Fergusson English actress born in Wakefield United Kingdom
20 Dec 1945
Peter Criss [George Peter John Criscuola] American drummer and singer (Kiss) born in Brooklyn New York
20 Dec 1946
John Spencer American actor (LA Law West Wing) born in New York City (d. 2005)
20 Dec 1947
Gigliola Cinquetti Italian singer born in Verona Italy
20 Dec 1948
Stevie Wright Australian singer with the Easybeats (Friday on my Mind) born in Leeds West Yorkshire (d. 2015)
20 Dec 1948
Alan Parsons English audio engineer & music producer (The Dark Side of the Moon Let it Be) born in London England
20 Dec 1949
Claudia Jennings [Mary Ellen Chestrerton] American playmate (Nov 1969) born in Saint Paul Minnesota
20 Dec 1949
Soumala Ciss Malian politician born in Timbuktu Mali
20 Dec 1949
Cecil Cooper American baseball player born in Brenham Texas
20 Dec 1951
Gilbert Montagn French musician born in Paris France
20 Dec 1951
Peter May Scottish novelist and scriptwriter born in Glasgow United Kingdom
20 Dec 1952
Jenny Agutter English actress (Logans Run Equus Amy) born in Taunton England
20 Dec 1952
Sergio Vastano Italian actor (Nightclub Prete Bello) born in Rome Italy
20 Dec 1966
Chris Robinson American rocker (Black Crowes-Shake Your Money Maker) born in Atlanta Georgia
20 Dec 1966
Ed de Goey Dutch soccer goalie (Feyenoord) born in Gouda South Holland
20 Dec 1966
Tim Hauck NFL safety and coach (Denver Broncos Seattle Seahawks) born in Butte Montana
20 Dec 1966
Matt Neal British motor racing driver born in Stourbridge United Kingdom
20 Dec 1966
Myrra Malmberg Swedish singer born in Farsta Stockholm
20 Dec 1954
Michael Badalucco American actor born in Brooklyn New York City
20 Dec 1954
Sandra Cisneros American writer born in Chicago Illinois
20 Dec 1955
Ed Kuepper Australian guitarist and singer-songwriter (The Saints) born in Bremen Germany
20 Dec 1955
Pierre Bokma Dutch actor (Avonden Leedvermaak) born in Paris France
20 Dec 1955
Sammy Mitchell US programmer (QeditTSESemware)
20 Dec 1956
Guy Babylon American keyboard player (Elton John) and arranger born in New Windsor Maryland (d. 2009)
20 Dec 1956
Blanche Baker American actress Carroll Bakers Daughter (French Postcard) born in NYC New York
20 Dec 1956
Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz Mauritanian 8th President of Mauritania (2009-present) born in Akjoujt French West Africa
20 Dec 1957
Billy Bragg English rocker (It Says Here Ideology) born in Barking Essex
20 Dec 1957
Mike Watt US bassist (Rockband Firehose) born in Portsmouth Virginia
20 Dec 1957
Joyce Hyser American actress born in New York City New York
20 Dec 1957
Anna Vissi Greek-Cypriot singer born in Pyla Cyprus
20 Dec 1959
David Lutz NFL guardtackle (Detroit Lions) born in Polkton North Carolina
20 Dec 1959
Kazimierz Marcinkiewicz Prime Minister of Poland born in Gorzw Wielkopolski Poland
20 Dec 1960
Carolyn Seaward Miss United Kingdom (1979) born in Devonshire England
20 Dec 1960
Piet Keur Dutch soccer player and trainer (SC Heerenveen AZ) born in Zandvoort Netherlands
20 Dec 1960
Nalo Hopkinson Jamaican-born Canadian writer born in Kingston Jamaica
20 Dec 1961
Bonnie Marino American playmate (Jun 1990) born in Cleveland Ohio
20 Dec 1961
Gale Gilbert NFL quarterback (San Diego Chargers) born in Red Bluff California
20 Dec 1961
Nate Newton NFL guard (Dallas Cowboys) born in Orlando Florida
20 Dec 1961
Mohammad Fouad Arab singer and actor born in Ismailia Governorate Egypt
20 Dec 1962
Thomas Newberry NFL guard (Pittsburgh Steelers) born in Onalaska Wisconsin
20 Dec 1963
Karen Moncrieff American actress (Xtro 3 Days of Our Lives) born in Sacramento California
20 Dec 1963
Pam Casale American tennis player (Marco Island finals 1985) born in Camden New Jersey
20 Dec 1963
Infanta Elena Duchess of Lugo born in Madrid Spain
20 Dec 1965
Robert Cavanah Scottish actor born in Edinburgh United Kingdom
20 Dec 1967
Duncan Kennedy American luger (Olympics 1994) born in Burlington California
20 Dec 1967
Wendy Hamilton American playmate (Dec 1991) born in Detroit Michigan
20 Dec 1968
Joe Cornish British comedian born in Westminster United Kingdom
20 Dec 1969
Bobby Phills NBA guard (Cleveland Cavaliers Charlotte Hornets) born in Baton Rouge Louisiana
20 Dec 1970
Dino Felicetti Italian-Canadian hockey forward (Team Italy 1998) born in Burlington Canada
20 Dec 1970
Grant Flower Zimbabwean cricketer born in Harare Zimbabwe
20 Dec 1970
Jason Simmons CFLWLAF defensive tackle (Roughriders Claymores)
20 Dec 1970
Tony Semple NFL guard (Detroit Lions) born in Springfield Illinois
20 Dec 1970
Travis Green Canadian NHL center (NY Islanders) born in Castlegar Canada
20 Dec 1970
Nicole DeBoer Canadian actress born in Toronto Canada
20 Dec 1971
Jerry Ellison American NFL running back (Tampa Bay Bucs) born in Augusta Georgia
20 Dec 1972
Scott Slutzker American football tight end (Indianapolis Colts) born in Oakland California
20 Dec 1972
Jan Caloun Czech hockey forward (Team Czech Olympic gold 1998) born in st nad Labem Czech Republic
20 Dec 1972
Jonathan Wyatt New Zealand 5000m runner (Olympics 1996) born in Wellington New Zealand
20 Dec 1972
Anders Odden Norwegian musician born in Stavanger Norway
20 Dec 1973
Barry Stokes WLAF offensive linesman (Rhein Fire) born in Flint Michigan
20 Dec 1973
Cory Stillman Canadian NHL center (Calgary Flames) born in Peterborough Canada
20 Dec 1973
Jenny Boucek WNBA guard (Cleveland Rockers) born in Nashville Tennessee
20 Dec 1973
Muadianvita Kazadi American football linebacker (St Louis Rams) born in Zaire
20 Dec 1974
Augie Ojeda American baseball infielder (Olympic bronze 1996) born in Los Angeles California
20 Dec 1974
Die Japanese musician (Dir en grey) born in Mie Japan
20 Dec 1975
Bartosz Bosacki Polish footballer born in Pozna Poland
20 Dec 1975
Jaydy Michel Mexican model born in Guadalajara Mexico
20 Dec 1976
Jang Hyuk Korean actor born in Busan South Korea
20 Dec 1976
Aubrey Huff American baseball player born in Marion Ohio
20 Dec 1976
Adam Powell Welsh computer programmer and game designer (Neopets) born in Newport Wales
20 Dec 1976
Ramon Stoppelenburg Dutch traveler and author born in Leiden Netherlands
20 Dec 1977
Saukrates Canadian rapper born in Ottawa Canada
20 Dec 1978
Geremi Njitap Cameroon footballer born in Bafoussam Cameroon
20 Dec 1978
Andrei Markov Russian ice hockey player born in Voskresensk Moscow Oblast Russia
20 Dec 1979
David DeJesus American baseball player born in Brooklyn New York City
20 Dec 1979
Michael Rogers Australian cyclist born in Barham Australia
20 Dec 1980
Ashley Cole English footballer born in Stepney London
20 Dec 1980
Fitz Hall English footballer born in Leytonstone London
20 Dec 1980
Tony [Anthony da Silva] French-born Portuguese footballer born in Le Creusot France
20 Dec 1981
Roy Williams American football player born in Odessa Texas
20 Dec 1981
James Shields American baseball player born in Santa Clarita California
20 Dec 1982
Mohammed Asif Pakistani cricket player born in Sheikhupura Pakistan
20 Dec 1982
Kasper Klausen Danish footballer born in Denmark
20 Dec 1982
David Wright American baseball player (New York Mets) born in Norfolk Virginia
20 Dec 1982
David Cook American singer and American Idol winner born in Houston Texas
20 Dec 1983
Lucy Pinder English model and actress born in Hampshire England
20 Dec 1865
Elsie De Wolfe American socialite and interior decorator born in NYC New York (d. 1950)
20 Dec 1886
Hazel Hotchkiss Wightman American tennis player (US Nat Cship 1909-11 19) born in Healdsburg California (d. 1974)
20 Dec 1907
Paul Francis Webster American lyricist born in NYC New York (d. 1984)
20 Dec 1927
Jim Simpson American sportscaster (NBC ESPN) born in Washington D.C. (d. 2016)
20 Dec 1939
Bill Keith American banjoist born in Boston Massachusetts (d. 2015)
20 Dec 1940
Larry Willis American jazz pianist & composer born in NYC New York
20 Dec 1942
Bob Hayes American athlete (2 x Olympic gold 100m 4x100m relay 1964) and Pro Football Hall of Fame receiver (3-time Pro Bowl Dallas Cowboys) born in Jacksonville Florida (d. 2002)
20 Dec 1946
Douglass Lubahn psychedelic rock & jazz rock bassist
20 Dec 1949
Claudia Jennings [Mary Ellen Chestrerton] American actress and Playboy playmate (Nov 1969 Playmate of the year 1970) born in Saint Paul Minnesota (d. 1979)
20 Dec 1957
Joyce Hyser American actress born in NYC New York
20 Dec 1970
Nicole DeBoer Canadian actress born in Toronto Ontario
20 Dec 1983
Darren Sammy St. Lucian West Indies cricketer born in Micoud Quarter Saint Lucia
20 Dec 1983
Lara Stone Dutch model born in Geldrop Netherlands
20 Dec 1983
Adrin Varela Mexican singer born in Culiacn Mexico
20 Dec 1984
David Tavar Spanish singer born in Pollena Spain
20 Dec 1867
Pudge Heffelfinger American College Football Hall of Fame guard (3 x All American Yale first professional player 1892) and coach (Cal Lehigh Minnesota) born in Minneapolis Minnesota (d. 1954)
20 Dec 1899
John Sparkman American politician (Sen-D-Alabama 1946-79 Rep-D-Alabama 1937-46) born in Hartselle Alabama (d. 1985)
20 Dec 1900
Gabby Hartnett American Baseball Hall of Fame catcher (MLB All Star 193338 NL MVP 1935 Chicago Cubs) and manager (Chicago Cubs) born in Woonsocket Rhode Island (d. 1972)
20 Dec 1908
Norman Hackforth British musician and radio broadcaster (Noel Coward Twenty Questions) born in Bihar British India (d. 1996)
20 Dec 1922
Denny Vaughan Canadian pianist singer arranger and orchestra leader (The Smothers Brothers Show Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour) born in Toronto Ontario (d. 1972) [1]
20 Dec 1925
Bob de Moor Belgian comics creator & artist (Kuifje Lion of Flanders) born in Antwerp Belgium (d. 1992)
20 Dec 1925
Vlastimir Nikolovski Macedonian composer born in Prileb Macedonia (d. 2001)
20 Dec 1927
Jim Simpson American sportscaster (NBC ESPN) born in Washington D.C. (d. 2016)
20 Dec 1932
Neil Armstrong Canadian ice hockey linesman (1744 NHL games Hockey Hall of Fame) born in Plympton Ontario (d. 2020)
20 Dec 1933
Gordon Getty American composer businessman and heir of J. Paul Getty born in Los Angeles California
20 Dec 1957
Arturs Maskats Latvian classical composer and music director (Rainis Dailes Theatre Latvian National Opera) born in Valmiera Latvia
20 Dec 1981
Roy Williams American football player (Detroit Lions Dallas Cowboys) born in Odessa Texas
20 Dec 1594
Giovanni Battista de Gagliano Italian composer (d. 1651)
20 Dec 1606
Christoph Schultze German composer born in Berlin Germany (d. 1683)
20 Dec 1758
Othon Joseph Vandenbroek Flemish horn player and composer born in Ypres Austrian Netherlands (now Belgium) (d. 1832)
20 Dec 1774
Guillaume-Perre-Antoine Gatayes French composer & guitarist born in Paris France (d. 1846)
20 Dec 1833
Samuel Mudd American physician (imprisoned for conspiring with John Wilkes Booth) born in Charles Country Maryland (d. 1883)
20 Dec 1869
Charley Grapewin American actor (The Wizard of Oz Libeled Lady) born in Xenia Ohio (d. 1956)
20 Dec 1871
Henry Kimball Hadley American composer and conductor born in Somerville Massachusetts (d. 1937)
20 Dec 1872
Lorenzo Perosi Italian priest and sacred oratorio composer born in Tortona Italy (d. 1956)
20 Dec 1873
Kanichi Asakawa Japanese historian writer and peace activist born in Nihonmatsu Fukushima Prefecture Japan (d. 1948)
20 Dec 1886
Domingo Julio Gmez Garcia Spanish composer born in Madrid Spain (d. 1973)
20 Dec 1889
Boidar irola Croatian composer born in akanje Croatia (d. 1956)
20 Dec 1901
Louis Kahn American architect (Salk Institute) born in Prnu Estonia [or Feb 20]
20 Dec 1907
Paul Francis Webster American lyricist (Love Is A Many Splendored Thing The Shadow Of Your Smile I Got It Bad And That Aint Good) born in NYC New York (d. 1984)
20 Dec 1916
Michel Chartrand French Canadian union activist born in Outremont Quebec
20 Dec 1925
Vlastimir Nikolovski Macedonian composer born in Prileb Kingdom of Serbs Croats and Slovenes (now North Macedonia) (d. 2001)
20 Dec 1928
Charles Donald Adams British bass-baritone opera singer (DOyly Carte Opera Company Gilbert and Sullivan For All) born in Bristol United Kingdom (d. 1996)
20 Dec 1935
Khalid Billy Ibadulla Pakistani cricket batsman (4 Tests 1 x 100 Warwickshire Otago) and broadcaster (TVNZ) born in Lahore Pakistan
20 Dec 1938
John Harris Harbison American composer (The Flight into Egypt) born in Orange New Jersey
20 Dec 1939
Kim Weston American soul singer (with Marvin Gaye - It Takes Two) born in Detroit Michigan
20 Dec 1939
Klaus Schweizer German composer born in Albstadt Germany
20 Dec 1939
Bill Keith American bluegrass and country banjoist born in Boston Massachusetts (d. 2015)
20 Dec 1944
Robert Bobby Colomby American rock drummer (Blood Sweat & Tears - Spinning Wheel) born in NYC New York
20 Dec 1946
Douglass Lubahn psychedelic rock and jazz rock bassist (d. 2019)
20 Dec 1946
Lesley Judd British child actress dancer television presenter (Blue Peter 1972-79) and radio host (BBCs Womans Hour 1982-88) born in London England
20 Dec 1947
Gigliola Cinquetti Italian pop singer born in Verona Italy
20 Dec 1948
Alan Parsons British music producer (The Alan Parsons Project - I Robot) and recording engineer (The Dark Side of the Moon Let it Be) born in London England
20 Dec 1948
Abdulrazak Gurnah Zanzibar born British writer (2021 Nobel Prize for Literature) born in Zanzibar
20 Dec 1950
Don Heffington American touring and session drummer singer songwriter and producer (Lone Justice Watkins Family Hour Emmylou Harris) born in Los Angeles California (d. 2021)
20 Dec 1951
Gilbert Montagn French pop piano player and singer (The Fool) born in Paris France
20 Dec 1957
(Stephen William) Billy Bragg English singer-songwriter (Greetings To The New Brunette Sexuality California Stars) born in Barking Essex England
20 Dec 1957
Mike Watt American rock bassist (Firehose) born in Portsmouth Virginia
20 Dec 1957
Pat Fish [Huntrods] British guitarist (The Jazz Butcher) born in London England (d. 2021)
20 Dec 1966
Paul Ritter [Simon Paul Adams] British actor (Friday Night Dinner Chernobyl Quantum of Solace) born in Gravesend Kent England (d. 2021)
20 Dec 1970
Travis Green Canadian NHL center (NY Islanders Toronto Maple Leafs World Cship gold 1997) and coach (Vancouver Canucks) born in Castlegar Canada
20 Dec 1974
Die Japanese rock guitarist (Dir en grey) born in Mie Japan
20 Dec 1981
Chris Edwards British rock bassist (Kasabian) born in England
20 Dec 1579
John Fletcher English Jacobean playwright (followed Shakespeare as playwright for the Kings Men) born in Rye England (d. 1625)
20 Dec 1875
T. F. Powys British novelist & short-story writer (Captain Patch Goat Green) born in Shirley Derbyshire (d. 1953)
20 Dec 1876
J. Van Oudshoorn [Jan Koos Feylbrief] Dutch writer (Maze of Senses) born in the Hague Netherlands (d. 1951)
20 Dec 1876
Walter Sydney Adams American astronomer (director of Mount Wilson) born in Antioch Turkey (d. 1956)
20 Dec 1895
Susanne Langer American philosopher & educator (Philosophy in a New Key) born in Manhattan New York City (d. 1985)
20 Dec 1901
Louis Kahn American architect (Salk Institute) born in Prnu Estonia (d. 1974) [or Feb 20]
20 Dec 1901
Robert J. Van de Graaff American engineer & physicist (Mobility of Gaseous Ions) born in Tuscaloosa Alabama (d. 1967)
20 Dec 1902
George Edward Alexander Windsor British nobleman (Duke of Kent) and RAF officer born in York Cottage United Kingdom (d. 1942)
20 Dec 1902
Sidney Hook American philosopher (The Paradoxes of Freedom) born in Brooklyn New York (d. 1989)
20 Dec 1904
Hans Burkhardt Swiss-American abstract artist born in Basel Switzerland (d. 1994)
20 Dec 1905
Albert Van Dekker American character actor (Dr. Cyclops Beau Geste The Wild Bunch) born in Brooklyn NYC (d. 1968)
20 Dec 1905
Bill OReilly Australian cricketer (mighty Australian leg-spinner) born in White Cliffs Australia (d. 1992)
20 Dec 1906
Dick White British intelligence officer (Director General of MI5 19531956 Head of the Secret Intelligence Service 19561968) born in Tonbridge Kent (d. 1993)
20 Dec 1906
Irving Krick American meteorologist and inventor born in San Francisco California (d. 1996)
20 Dec 1911
Hortense Calisher American novelist (President of the American Academy of Arts and Letters) born in NYC New York (d. 2009)
20 Dec 1913
Jozef Kresnek Slovak composer and musicologist born in imany Kongdom of Hungary (now Slovakia) (d. 1986)
20 Dec 1916
Michel Chartrand French Canadian union activist born in Outremont Quebec (d. 2010)
20 Dec 1936
Judy Henske American folk singer (High Flying Bird) born in Chippewa Falls Wisconsin (d. 2022)
20 Dec 1939
Dianne Arndt American artist and photographer born in Springfield Massachusetts
20 Dec 1942
Hctor Pulido Mexican football midfielder (43 caps Cruz Azul Club Jalisco AC) born in Numaran Mexico (d. 2022)
20 Dec 1945
Peter Criss [George Peter John Criscuola] American drummer and singer (Kiss - Beth) born in Brooklyn New York
20 Dec 1956
Anita Ward American R&B and disco singer (Ring My Bell) born in Memphis Tennessee [some sources cite year as 1957]
20 Dec 1957
Arturs Maskats Latvian classical composer and music director (Dailes Theatre Latvian National Opera 1996-2013) born in Valmiera Latvia
20 Dec 1960
Nalo Hopkinson Jamaican-Canadian writer (Brown Girl in the Ring The Salt Roads) born in Kingston Jamaica
20 Dec 1966
Chris Robinson American rock singer (Black Crowes - Hard To Handle) born in Atlanta Georgia
20 Dec 1974
Die [Daisuke Andou] Japanese heavy metal rock guitarist (Dir En Grey) born in Mie Japan
20 Dec 1977
David Feldman Brazilian-Israeli jazz and bossa nova pianist arranger and composer born in Rio de Janeiro Brazil
20 Dec 1539
Paulus Melissus humanist Neo-Latin writer translator and composer born in Mellrichstadt Duchy of Bavaria (now Germany) (d. 1602)
20 Dec 1576
Jan Sarkander Polish-Czech Roman Catholic priest martyr and saint born in Skoczw Bohemia (now in Poland) (d. 1620)
20 Dec 1594
Giovanni Battista de Gagliano Italian composer born in Florence Grand Duchy of Tuscany (now Italy) (d. 1651)
20 Dec 1606
Christoph Schultze German composer born in Berlin Margraviate of Brandenburg (now Germany) (d. 1683)
20 Dec 1659
Francois Fagel Dutch statesman and collector (coins and medals) born in The Hague Netherlands (d. 1746)
20 Dec 1729
Franz Xaver Thomas Pokorny Czech composer born in Mstec Krlov Lands of the Bohemian Crown (now Czech Republic) (d. 1794)
20 Dec 1812
Achille Peri Italian composer and conductor born in Reggio Emilia Italy (d. 1880)
20 Dec 1841
Ferdinand Buisson French academic and pacifist (Nobel Peace Prize 1927) born in Paris France (d. 1932)
20 Dec 1902
Max Lerner American journalist (NY Post) and educator born in Minsk Russia (d. 1992)
20 Dec 1905
Albert Dekker American stage and screen character actor ((Dr. Cyclops Beau Geste The Wild Bunch) and politician born in Brooklyn New York (d. 1968)
20 Dec 1921
George Roy Hill American Academy Award-winning film director (Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid The Sting Slap Shot A Little Romance The World According to Garp) born in Minneapolis Minnesota (d. 2002)
20 Dec 1924
Judy LaMarsh Canadian lawyer politician (Member of Parliament 1960-68) author and broadcaster (CBC Radio) born in Chatham-Kent Ontario (d. 1980)
20 Dec 1929
Carlo Fassi Italian figure skating coach (Peggy Fleming Dorothy Hamill John Curry Robin Cousins Jill Trenary) and skater (World Cship bronze mens singles 1953) born in Milan Italy (d. 1997)
20 Dec 1932
John Hillerman American actor (Magnum PI Chinatown Blazing Saddles) born in Denison Texas (d. 2017)
20 Dec 1939
Bill Keith American bluegrass country and session banjoist and tuning instrument tuner inventor born in Boston Massachusetts (d. 2015)
20 Dec 1940
Larry Willis American jazz pianist and composer born in NYC New York (d. 2019)
20 Dec 1941
Michael Hurley American folk singer-songwriter (The Tea Song) born in Bucks Country Pennsylvania [1]
20 Dec 1942
Bob Hayes American athlete (Olympic gold 100m 4x100m relay 1964) and Pro Football Hall of Fame receiver (3 x Pro Bowl Dallas Cowboys) born in Jacksonville Florida (d. 2002)
20 Dec 1943
Walter Wolfman Washington American funk R&B and blues guitarist (Johnny Adams The Roadmasters) born in New Orleans Louisiana (d. 2022)
20 Dec 1946
Doug Lubahn American session psychedelic rock and jazz-fusion bassist (The Doors Pierce Arrow Billy Squier) born in the USA (d. 2019)
20 Dec 1947
Gigliola Cinquetti Italian pop singer (Eurovision 1964) born in Verona Italy
20 Dec 1966
Myrra Malmberg Swedish pop singer actress and photographer born in Farsta Stockholm
20 Dec 1971
Jerry Ellison American NFL running back 1994-99 (Tampa Bay Bucs) born in Augusta Georgia
20 Dec 1539
Paulus Melissus humanist Neo-Latin writer translator and composer born in Mellrichstadt Duchy of Bavaria (d. 1602)
20 Dec 1594
Giovanni Battista de Gagliano Italian composer born in Florence Grand Duchy of Tuscany (d. 1651)
20 Dec 1606
Christoph Schultze German composer born in Berlin Margraviate of Brandenburg (d. 1683)
20 Dec 1659
Franois Fagel Dutch statesman and collector (coins and medals) born in The Hague Netherlands (d. 1746)
20 Dec 1729
Frantiek Xaver Pokorn Czech violinist and composer born in Mstec Krlov Lands of the Bohemian Crown (d. 1794)
20 Dec 1758
Othon Joseph Vandenbroek Flemish horn player and composer born in Ypres Austrian Netherlands (d. 1832)
20 Dec 1774
Guillaume-Perre-Antoine Gatayes French composer and guitarist born in Paris France (d. 1846)
20 Dec 1786
Pietro Raimondi Italian composer born in Rome Papal States (d. 1853)
20 Dec 1808
Thomas Tinsley Craven American naval commander for the Union during the Civil War born at the Washington Naval Yard (d. 1887)
20 Dec 1809
Friedrich Karl Kuhmstedt German composer born in Oldisleben Grand Duchy of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach (d. 1858)
20 Dec 1812
Achille Peri Italian composer and conductor born in Reggio Emilia Kingdom of Italy (Napoleonic) (d. 1880)
20 Dec 1819
John Geary American lawyer and politician (1st SF postmaster 1st mayor) born in Mount Pleasant Pennsylvania (d. 1873)
20 Dec 1838
Edwin Abbott Abbott English schoolmaster and theologian (Flatland) born in Marylebone United Kingdom (d. 1926)
20 Dec 1859
Antonius Derkinderen Dutch painter and artist born in s-Hertogenbosch Netherlands (d. 1925)
20 Dec 1860
Dan Leno [George Wild Galvin] English comedian and stage actor born in Somers Town London (d. 1904)
20 Dec 1865
Elsie De Wolfe American socialite and interior decorator born in New York City (d. 1950)
20 Dec 1872
Lorenzo Perosi Italian priest and sacred oratorio composer born in Tortona Kingdom of Italy (d. 1956)
20 Dec 1875
T. F. Powys British novelist and short-story writer (Captain Patch Goat Green) born in Shirley Derbyshire (d. 1953)
20 Dec 1895
Susanne Langer American philosopher and educator (Philosophy in a New Key) born in Manhattan New York (d. 1985)
20 Dec 1901
Robert J. Van de Graaff American engineer and physicist (Mobility of Gaseous Ions) born in Tuscaloosa Alabama (d. 1967)
20 Dec 1905
Albert Dekker American stage and screen character actor (Dr. Cyclops Beau Geste The Wild Bunch) and politician born in Brooklyn New York (d. 1968)
20 Dec 1905
Bill OReilly Australian cricketer slow-medium leg-spin bowler (144 test wickets at 22.59) and newspaper columnist born in White Cliffs Australia (d. 1992)
20 Dec 1907
Paul Francis Webster American lyricist (Love Is A Many Splendored Thing The Shadow Of Your Smile I Got It Bad And That Aint Good) born in New York City (d. 1984)
20 Dec 1909
Vakkom Majeed Indian freedom fighter and politician born in the Kingdom of Travancore (d. 2000)
20 Dec 1911
Hortense Calisher American novelist (President of the American Academy of Arts and Letters) born in New York City (d. 2009)
20 Dec 1915
Aziz Nesin Turkish writer and humorist born in Heybeliada Ottoman Empire (d. 1995)
20 Dec 1924
Errol John Trinidadian actor and playwright (A Man from the Sun The Nuns Story Assault on a Queen) born in Port of Spain Trinidad (d. 1988)
20 Dec 1925
Bob de Moor Belgian comics creator and artist (Kuifje Lion of Flanders) born in Antwerp Belgium (d. 1992)
20 Dec 1926
Otto Graf Lambsdorff German politician (Free Democratic Party Minister of Economics 1977-84) born in Aachen Germany (d. 2009)
20 Dec 1928
Jack Christiansen American NFL football player. 1951-58 (Detroit Lions - 3 x Champion 5 X Pro Bowl) NFL and college coach (San Francisco 49ers Stanford University) born in Sublette Kansas (d. 1986)
20 Dec 1929
Milan Pani Serbian-American businessman (ICN Pharmaceuticals) politician (Prime Minister of Yugoslavia 1992-93) and humanitarian born in Belgrade Yugoslavia
20 Dec 1933
Gordon Getty American composer businessman and heir of J. Paul Getty born in Los Angeles California
20 Dec 1935
Khalid Billy Ibadulla Pakistani cricket batsman (4 Tests 1 x 100 HS 166 Warwickshire Otago) and broadcaster (TVNZ) born in Lahore Pakistan (d. 2024)
20 Dec 1938
John Harbison American composer (The Flight Into Egypt The Great Gatsby) born in Orange New Jersey
20 Dec 1940
Larry Willis American jazz pianist and composer born in New York City (d. 2019)
20 Dec 1944
Bobby Colomby American rock drummer (Blood Sweat & Tears - Spinning Wheel) born in New York City
20 Dec 1947
Gigliola Cinquetti Italian pop singer (Eurovision 1964 - Non ho let (Im not old enough)) and telebision personality born in Verona Italy
20 Dec 1950
Bill Clement Canadian NHL hockey forward 1971-82 (Stanley Cup 1974 1975 - Philadelphia Flyers and 2 other teams) and broadcaster (ESPN NBC) born in Buckingham Quebec
20 Dec 1951
Kate Atkinson English writer known for the Jackson Brodie book series born in York England
20 Dec 1956
Blanche Baker American actress Carroll Bakers Daughter (French Postcard) born in New York City
20 Dec 1957
Billy Bragg English folk-rock singer-songwriter (Greetings To The New Brunette Sexuality California Stars) born in Barking Essex England
20 Dec 1970
Grant Flower Zimbabwean cricket batsman (67 Tests 6 x 100 HS 201no Mashonaland Leicestershire CCC Essex CCC) born in Harare Zimbabwe
20 Dec 1973
Cory Stillman Canadian NHL center (Calgary Flames) born in Peterborough Ontario
20 Dec 1980
Ashley Cole English soccer defender (107 caps Arsenal 156 games Chelsea 229 games LA Galaxy) born in London England
20 Dec 1812
Achille Peri Italian composer and conductor born in Reggio Emilia Napoleonic Kingdom of Italy (d. 1880)
20 Dec 1922
Charita Bauer American actress (Guiding Light The Aldrich Family) born in Newark New Jersey (d. 1985)
20 Dec 1922
Jake Larson American D-Day veteran and social media star (Story Time with Papa Jake) born in Owatonna Minnesota (d. 2025) [1]
20 Dec 1933
Rik Van Looy Belgian cyclist (World Road Race champion 1960 61 Tour de France Points classification 1963) born in Grobbendonk Belgium (d. 2024)
20 Dec 1940
Adolfo Olivares Chilean soccer striker (15 caps Ferrobdminton Universidad de Chile Huachipato Santiago Morning) born in Ocoa Chile (d. 2025)
20 Dec 1942
Hctor Pulido Mexican soccer midfielder (43 caps Cruz Azul Club Jalisco AC) born in Numaran Mexico (d. 2022)
20 Dec 1942
Odd Martinsen Norwegian cross country skier (Olympic gold 4 10k relay 1968 silver 1976 silver 30k 1968) born in Drammen Norway (d. 2025)
20 Dec 1951
Shane Doyle Irish businessman and founder of Sin- cafe and music venue in New York City born in Dublin Ireland (d. 2025) [1]
20 Dec 1954
Michael Badalucco American actor (The Practice O Brother Where Art Thou) born in Brooklyn New York
20 Dec 1957
Joyce Hyser American actress (Just One of the Guys This Is Spinal Tap) born in New York City
20 Dec 1961
Mohamed Fouad Arab singer (Habibi Ya) and actor (Aghla Min Hayati) born in Ismailia Governorate Egypt
20 Dec 1965
Robert Cavanah Scottish actor (The Royal ITVs Wuthering Heights) born in Edinburgh Scotland
20 Dec 1968
Joe Cornish British comedian and screenwriter (Ant-Man Attack the Block) born in London
20 Dec 1969
Brian OHalloran American stage and screen actor (films of Kevin Smith) and podcaster born in Manhattan New York City
20 Dec 1970
Nicole DeBoer Canadian actress (Ezri Dax in Star Trek Deep Space Nine) born in Toronto Ontario
20 Dec 1975
Jaydy Michel Mexican model (Ze Garca SS23) and television personality (Mexicos Next Top Model) born in Guadalajara Mexico
20 Dec 1976
Jang Hyuk South Korean actor (The Slave Hunters Shine or Go Crazy) born in Busan South Korea
20 Dec 1981
Melanie Scrofano Canadian actress (Wynonna Earp) born in Ottawa Ontario
20 Dec 1982
David Cook American singer (The Time of My Life) and American Idol winner (season 7) born in Houston Texas
20 Dec 1982
David Wright American baseball third baseman (7 MLB All-Star Gold Glove Award & Silver Slugger Award 2007 08 New York Mets) born in Norfolk Virginia
20 Dec 1983
Lara Stone Dutch model (Louis Vuitton SS10 Stella by Stella McCartney ad campaign) born in Geldrop Netherlands
20 Dec 1984
David Tavar Spanish pop-eurodance singer (Hot Summer Night (Oh La La La)) born in Pollena Spain
20 Dec 1987
Nao [Neo Joshua] British soul and R&B singer-songwriter and record producer (And Then Life Was Beautiful) born in Nottingham England
20 Dec 1987
Tariel Zintiridis Greek judoka born in Tbilisi Georgia
20 Dec 1990
Bugzy Malone [Aaron Davies] English rapper and songwriter (Out of Nowhere) born in Manchester England
20 Dec 1996
Hannah Green Australian golfer (Womens PGA Cship 2019) born in Perth Western Australia
20 Dec 1997
Anok Yai American model (1st model of Sudanese heritage to open a Prada show) born in Cairo Egypt
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